WorldWide Drilling Resource

16 OCTOBER 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® How Much does the Public Really know about Energy Issues? Adapted from Information by the University of Texas at Austin Although energy issues are a very hot topic in the United States, an energy poll conducted by the University of Texas at Austin indi- cates the public is less engaged on energy issues than they have been in the past. In a transformative period of domestic energy pro- duction and unparalleled technological changes, these survey results highlighted consumer misperceptions about where the United States gets its energy. The survey of consumer perspectives on energy showed mixed views on the recent surge in domestic natural gas pro- duction, largely made possible by hydraulic fracturing. Among the 40% of Americans who say they are familiar with the tech- nology, 38% support hydraulic fracturing. Nonetheless, an increasing majority of consumers (57%) see domestic natural gas production as beneficial in lowering carbon emissions. Additionally, more than 4 out of 5 want the federal government to focus on developing natural gas, second only to renewable technologies. “What we’re seeing is the real disconnect between energy and the American public,” UT Energy Poll Director Sheril Kirshenbaum said. “In some instances, ideology may influence attitudes, but there’s unquestionably a lack of understanding across a broad swath of energy issues that affect each of us.” Of those surveyed, 70% expressed concern about the portion of their household budget spent on energy. Yet, nearly 3 out of 4 also expect the portion of their household budget spent on energy to increase within the next year. Americans fare poorly when it comes to general energy literacy. Over half believe the nation’s largest foreign supplier of oil is Saudi Arabia, while just 13% chose the correct answer, Canada. Almost a third say they are knowledgeable about how energy is produced, delivered, and used, but less than half of this group correctly chose Canada as our largest foreign supplier of oil.